The number of rigs exploring for oil and natural gas in the Permian Basin decreased 27 this week to 454, according to the weekly rotary rig count released Friday by Houston-based oilfield service company Baker Hughes.

In District 8, which includes Midland and Ector counties, there were 275 rigs, down 10 from last week and 39 fewer than the first rig count of the month, marking a 12.42 percent drop. The Permian Basin's count was down 76 rigs, or 14.34 percent, this month, or 14.34 percent.

Texas shed 58 rigs this week for a statewide total of 695. In other major Texas basins, there were 178 rigs in the Eagle Ford, down three; 43 in the Haynesville, up one; 40 in the Granite Wash, down one; and 19 in the Barnett, down six.

At this time last year, there were 481 rigs in the Permian Basin and 842 in Texas. The state shed 145 rigs this month, a 17.26 percent decrease.

The U.S. count fell 90 rigs this week, leaving a nationwide total of 1,543. There were 1,223 oil rigs, down 94; 319 natural gas rigs, up three; and one rig listed as miscellaneous, up one.

By trajectory, there were 235 vertical drilling rigs, down 23; 1,168 horizontal drilling rigs, down 61; and 140 directional drilling rigs, down six.

The U.S. had 1,785 rigs a year ago this week.

The top five basins by rig count were the Permian; the Eagle Ford; the Williston with 148, down five; the Marcellus with 75; down one; and the Mississippian with 54, down nine.

The top five states were Texas; Oklahoma with 183, down 10; North Dakota with 143, down four; Louisiana with 108, down two; and New Mexico with 87, down two.

In the U.S., there were 1,482 rigs on land, down 86; 12 in land waters, up one; and 49 offshore, down five. There were 47 rigs in the Gulf of Mexico, down six.

Canada shed 30 rigs this week for a nationwide total of 394. There were 200 oil rigs, down 23; 194 natural gas rigs, down 15; and 15 rigs listed as miscellaneous, unchanged. Canada had 608 rigs at this time last year.

The total number of rigs in the North America region decreased 128 this week to 1,937. There were 2,393 rigs in North America a year ago this week.

Check out the Oil Report in Sunday's edition of the Reporter-Telegram for more energy news from the Permian Basin and beyond. More news is also available online at mrt.com/business/oil and fuelfix.com/midland. For more information about the weekly rotary rig count, visit the Baker Hughes website at bakerhughes.com.